16 Food And Beverage Supervisor Skills for Your Career and Resume

A food and beverage supervisor is responsible for managing the food and beverage operations of a restaurant, bar, or other food service establishment. They often have a wide range of responsibilities, from overseeing staff to ordering supplies. To be successful in this role, food and beverage supervisors need to have a variety of skills.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Food and beverage supervisors often work in fast-paced environments where they may need to change their plans on short notice. For example, if a customer complains about an unsatisfactory meal, you might need to find a solution quickly. Flexibility allows you to adjust your approach to solve the problem and satisfy the customer.

Quality Assurance

Quality assurance is the ability to ensure that products are safe and meet industry standards. Food and beverage supervisors often use quality assurance skills when inspecting food before it’s served, ensuring that employees follow proper safety procedures and evaluating employee performance. Quality assurance can also be an important aspect of maintaining customer satisfaction because it ensures that customers receive high-quality products.

Inventory Management

A food and beverage supervisor needs to be able to manage the inventory of their establishment. This includes knowing what supplies they have, when they need to order more and how much they should order. It also means keeping track of any products that are out of stock so you can restock them as soon as possible.

Inventory management is an important skill for a food and beverage supervisor because it ensures your customers will always find the items they want on your menu. It also helps you save money by ordering only what you need and prevents you from wasting time or resources on unnecessary purchases.

Scheduling

Scheduling is the ability to plan and organize work shifts, breaks and other aspects of an employee’s schedule. Food and beverage supervisors often use scheduling skills when creating their own schedules as well as those for their employees. This can include planning out monthly or weekly shifts and ensuring that all necessary staff are available during busy periods.

Leadership

Food and beverage supervisors often work with a team of employees, so it’s important to have strong leadership skills. You may need to train new staff members or lead your team through challenging situations. Strong leadership can help you motivate your team and encourage them to perform well. It also allows you to delegate tasks effectively and assign responsibilities that each member is best suited for.

Customer Service

Customer service skills are important for food and beverage supervisors because they often interact with customers directly. They need to be able to provide excellent customer service, including greeting patrons, answering questions about menu items and resolving any issues that may arise. Customer service skills can also help you develop a positive reputation for your restaurant or bar so that it continues to attract new customers.

Food & Beverage Cost Control

Food and beverage supervisors are responsible for ensuring that their establishment’s food and drink is affordable to patrons. They also ensure that the restaurant or bar makes a profit by controlling costs associated with ingredients, supplies and labor. Food and beverage supervisors use cost control skills when negotiating contracts with suppliers and evaluating employee performance.

Communication

Communication is the ability to convey information clearly and concisely. Food and beverage supervisors often communicate with their staff, customers and management. They need to be able to explain complex topics in a way that everyone understands. Good communication skills can help you resolve issues quickly and keep your team happy and productive.

Product Knowledge

Food and beverage supervisors need to have a thorough knowledge of the products they sell. This includes knowing how to prepare menu items, where ingredients come from and what makes each product unique. Having strong product knowledge can help you train new employees on food preparation and answer customer questions about menu items. It also allows you to identify any issues with food quality or consistency that may require attention from other staff members.

Safety & Sanitation

Food and beverage supervisors need to be knowledgeable about food safety regulations, as well as how to maintain sanitary conditions in the workplace. This includes knowing how to clean equipment, store ingredients and prevent contamination when preparing food. It’s also important for food and beverage supervisors to know how to handle emergency situations that involve health and safety concerns.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is the ability to identify and resolve issues. Food and beverage supervisors often use problem solving skills when dealing with customer complaints, employee conflicts or operational challenges. For example, if a customer complains that their food was served cold, you might ask them what they liked about the dish so you can improve it for other customers.

P&L Responsibility

A food and beverage supervisor is responsible for ensuring that their establishment’s profit margins are positive. This means they need to ensure the restaurant or bar has enough revenue to cover all expenses, including payroll. They also use this information to make decisions about how much to charge customers for menu items.

Decision Making

Food and beverage supervisors must be able to make decisions quickly. They often have to decide which food or drink item to serve first, how much of each ingredient to use in a recipe and whether they should change the menu based on customer feedback. Making quick and informed decisions can help them ensure that their establishment is providing high-quality service.

Organization

Organization is the ability to keep track of multiple tasks and responsibilities at once. Food and beverage supervisors often have many duties, so it’s important for them to be organized. This ensures they can complete their work on time and that they remember all the details of each task. It also helps them plan ahead by allowing them to prepare materials in advance and set deadlines for themselves.

Training & Development

Food and beverage supervisors often have to train new employees, so it’s important for them to know how to develop their skills. This includes knowing how to create a training program that will help the employee learn what they need to do their job well. It also involves providing feedback on an employee’s performance during training and suggesting ways they can improve.

Employee Relations

Food and beverage supervisors often work with a large team of employees, so it’s important to have strong interpersonal skills. You may need to resolve conflicts between staff members or help your employees develop their professional skills. Your ability to build trust with your employees can also help you motivate them to perform well and stay with the company for an extended period of time.

How Can I Learn These Food And Beverage Supervisor Skills?

There are a few ways that you can learn the necessary skills to become a food and beverage supervisor. One way is to take some courses at a local community college or online that focus on the food and beverage industry. Another way is to get a job working in a restaurant or other food and beverage establishment and learn the skills through on-the-job training. You could also look for books or other resources that focus on food and beverage management and learn the skills that way. Whichever way you choose to learn, it is important that you have some knowledge and experience in the food and beverage industry before you apply for a supervisor position.